Construction recruitment
Construction recruitment in Aberdeen
YP Recruitment places project managers, site managers, quantity surveyors, and civils engineers in Aberdeen for contractors delivering the Aberdeen Harbour South Harbour expansion, oil and gas facility construction and maintenance, commercial development, and the public sector construction programme for Aberdeen City Council and NHS Grampian. Aberdeen's construction market is shaped by its energy industry, with offshore facility onshore construction and port infrastructure adding a specialist dimension to an already active residential and commercial market. Salaries run from £36,000 for site managers to £75,000 for senior project directors.
The construction market in Aberdeen
Aberdeen Harbour's South Harbour expansion at Nigg Bay is one of the largest port infrastructure construction projects in Scottish history, adding new deep-water berths, quayside facilities, and port services infrastructure. Major contractors including Dragados, Robertson Construction, and specialist civil engineering firms have been active on this programme. The project's scale and complexity, combining marine civil engineering with wharf construction and onshore infrastructure, has created sustained demand for civil engineers, project managers, and quantity surveyors with heavy civils and port construction experience.
Oil and gas onshore construction, including the construction and modification of process terminals, compressor stations, and gas treatment plants across the north-east, creates specialist process plant construction demand. M&E contractors, pipework specialists, and structural contractors serving the energy sector operate on frameworks with major oil and gas companies, requiring site managers and project managers who understand COMAH-regulated site working and the HSE requirements of brownfield energy facilities. This is a distinct market from conventional construction and attracts specialist contractors.
Residential and commercial construction in Aberdeen has been influenced by oil price cycles, with the 2014-2016 downturn creating a sharp correction in property values that suppressed development for several years. The recovery since 2021 has brought renewed residential construction activity, with housebuilders returning to sites put on hold. Aberdeen City Council's masterplan for the city centre, including the Marischal Square development and ongoing civic regeneration, adds commercial and public realm construction to the local market.
Construction salary benchmarks in Aberdeen
Site managers in Aberdeen earn £38,000 to £54,000. Quantity surveyors at mid-level earn £40,000 to £58,000. Contracts managers earn £52,000 to £66,000. Senior project managers on major harbour or energy-sector construction earn £62,000 to £75,000. Aberdeen's energy premium means construction professionals earn approximately 10-15% more than in comparable roles in England's regional cities.
Construction roles we fill in Aberdeen
Project Manager
Harbour, energy, commercial. Major contractors. £52,000-£70,000.
Site Manager
Residential, commercial, port infrastructure. Aberdeen. £38,000-£54,000.
Quantity Surveyor
Main contractor and PQS. Energy and commercial. £40,000-£58,000.
Civil Engineer
Marine, port, infrastructure. South Harbour. £38,000-£58,000.
M&E Project Manager
Oil and gas onshore facilities. Process plant. £52,000-£70,000.
Construction Director
Programme leadership. Major contractor. Aberdeen. £66,000-£75,000+.
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